SAN DIEGO, Calif. (March 21, 2017) – Embrace recently received a $25,000 Responsive Grant from Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to assist with the development of the Game Changer model. Game Changer utilizes sports to create safe space for dialogue and understanding between police officers and lay members of the community. According to the Alliance Healthcare Foundation website, the criteria to receive Responsive Grants include: target population, evidence base for program design, geographic location of program, strengths and weaknesses in request, and budget, among others. Responsive grants may be: time-sensitive, a novel funding opportunity or leadership & organizational development-based.

“Alliance Healthcare Foundation is excited to participate with Game Changer as we explore ways to impact health and wellness through violence reduction,” said Alliance Healthcare Foundation Executive Director, Nancy Sasaki. “Game Changer is a powerful way to reconnect as humans with respect and understanding by hearing each other’s story and creating positive shared experiences.”

Game Changer events have occurred every month at San Diego State University since the program launched on December 12, 2016. Additional events are scheduled to occur with the San Diego Padres during the months of April and May 2017. The number of events and where they occur beyond May, 2017 will depend upon funding and additional partners that include high schools, universities and professional sports teams.

“We deeply appreciate AHF’s support that addresses an age-old societal issue in an innovative, unifying manner,” said Embrace Founder and Game Changer creator, Sean Sheppard. Early efficacy results lead us to believe that the program’s immediate and foreseeable future is extremely bright.”